An Intelligent Sleep Apnea Classification System Based on EEG Signals.

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder which causes stop in breathing for a short duration of time that happens to human beings and animals during sleep. Electroencephalogram (EEG) plays a vital role in detecting the sleep apnea by sensing and recording the brain's activities. The EEG signal dataset is subjected to filtering by using Infinite Impulse Response Butterworth Band Pass Filter and Hilbert Huang Transform. After pre-processing, the filtered EEG signal is manipulated for sub-band separation and it is fissioned into five frequency bands such as Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. This work employs features such as energy, entropy, and variance which are computed for each frequency band obtained from the decomposed EEG signals. The selected features are imported for the classification process by using machine learning classifiers including Support Vector Machine (SVM) with Kernel Functions, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The performance measures such as accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are computed and analyzed for each classifier and it is inferred that the Support Vector Machine based classification of sleep apnea produces promising results.

Bibliometric analysis of research on dental age estimation.

Dental age estimation plays a key role in therapeutic, medicolegal, forensic, and anthropological applications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the research progress on dental age estimation using bibliometric analysis. Data were gathered from Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed. Keyword co-occurrence analysis, collaboration network analysis, and descriptive analysis of bibliographic data were all completed using VOS viewer and Biblioshiny software. There has been an ongoing but gradual rise in research regarding dental age estimation, with notable increase since 2014. The country with the most publications published (205) was India. The year of 2018 (TP = 92) and 2021 (TP = 100) saw a rapid spike in publications and citations, respectively. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, which has 153 citations, was the most productive institution. Forensic Science International was the journal with the greatest number of publications (73). Author Cameriere had the maximum number of publications (30). The increase in publications associated to collaboration across numerous authors, nations, and institutes serves as evidence of the significant improvement in dental age estimation. This citation analysis allows for the identification of the most relevant and pertinent research fields while providing a view on the development of research in the field of dental age estimation.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of pulpectomies using three root canal filling materials: an in-vivo study.

Various root canal filling materials are used to preserve a pulpally involved carious primary tooth. But there is no single material so far available to fulfill all the requirements of an ideal root canal filling material for a primary tooth. Hence this study was undertaken to evaluate clinically and radiographically the efficacy of three obturating materials - Calcium hydroxide with Iodoform (METAPEX), Zinc Oxide Eugenol with Iodoform (RC FILL) and Zinc Oxide Eugenol and Calcium hydroxide with Iodoform (ENDOFLAS) for a period of 9 months. Results show ENDOFLAS gave an overall success rate of 95.1%, METAPEX - 90.5% and RC FILL - 84.7%. In our study, we conclude that ENDOFLAS, a mixture of Zinc Oxide Eugenol and Calcium hydroxide with Iodoform fulfills most of the required properties of an ideal root canal filling for primary teeth.

Clinical practice guideline for diagnostic testing for adult obstructive sleep apnea: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline

INTRODUCTION: This guideline establishes clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults and is intended for use in conjunction with other American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) guidelines on the evaluation and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in adults. METHODS: The AASM commissioned a task force of experts in sleep medicine. A systematic review was conducted to identify studies, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) process was used to assess the evidence. The task force developed recommendations and assigned strengths based on the quality of evidence, the balance of benefits and harms, patient values and preferences, and resource use. In addition, the task force adopted foundational recommendations from prior guidelines as "good practice statements", that establish the basis for appropriate and effective diagnosis of OSA. The AASM Board of Directors approved the final recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: The following recommendations are intended as a guide for clinicians diagnosing OSA in adults. Under GRADE, a STRONG recommendation is one that clinicians should follow under most circumstances. A WEAK recommendation reflects a lower degree of certainty regarding the outcome and appropriateness of the patient-care strategy for all patients. The ultimate judgment regarding propriety of any specific care must be made by the clinician in light of the individual circumstances presented by the patient, available diagnostic tools, accessible treatment options, and resources. Good Practice Statements: Diagnostic testing for OSA should be performed in conjunction with a comprehensive sleep evaluation and adequate follow-up. Polysomnography is the standard diagnostic test for the diagnosis of OSA in adult patients in whom there is a concern for OSA based on a comprehensive sleep evaluation.Recommendations: We recommend that clinical tools, questionnaires and prediction algorithms not be used to diagnose OSA in adults, in the absence of polysomnography or home sleep apnea testing. (STRONG). We recommend that polysomnography, or home sleep apnea testing with a technically adequate device, be used for the diagnosis of OSA in uncomplicated adult patients presenting with signs and symptoms that indicate an increased risk of moderate to severe OSA. (STRONG). We recommend that if a single home sleep apnea test is negative, inconclusive, or technically inadequate, polysomnography be performed for the diagnosis of OSA. (STRONG). We recommend that polysomnography, rather than home sleep apnea testing, be used for the diagnosis of OSA in patients with significant cardiorespiratory disease, potential respiratory muscle weakness due to neuromuscular condition, awake hypoventilation or suspicion of sleep related hypoventilation, chronic opioid medication use, history of stroke or severe insomnia. (STRONG). We suggest that, if clinically appropriate, a split-night diagnostic protocol, rather than a full-night diagnostic protocol for polysomnography be used for the diagnosis of OSA. (WEAK). We suggest that when the initial polysomnogram is negative and clinical suspicion for OSA remains, a second polysomnogram be considered for the diagnosis of OSA. (WEAK).

CD117 (c-KIT) overexpression in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and role of CD117 (c-KIT) overexpression as a predictive/prognostic marker in extensive-stage small-cell lung carcinoma (ESSCLC). We performed a retrospective study on subjects with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of ESSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A chart review for demographic and clinical data was performed on patients with ESSCLC diagnosed between 1991 and 2001. CD117 overexpression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (A4052 polyclonal antibody) performed on archival paraffin-embedded specimens. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-three patients with ESSCLC were identified, of whom 193 (84 females, 109 males) with a mean age of 68.5 years (range 42-90) had adequate tissue specimens available for CD117 testing. The most commonly presenting symptom was weight loss, seen in 61 patients (31.6%). Of the 193 specimens, 54 (27.9%) showed CD117 overexpression. The median length of survival for CD117-positive patients was 9 months as compared with the CD117-negative population, in whom the survival was 6 months (P = 0.025, Cox proportional hazard method). CONCLUSIONS: CD117 overexpression detected using immunohistochemistry is observed in about a third of patients with ESSCLC and does not have statistically significant prognostic value. However, CD117 may be a potential target for site-specific immunotherapy in ESSCLC. Our findings suggest a role for clinical trials assessing the role of selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI-571 (alone or in combination with conventional therapy) in patients with ESSCLC.